God's Names at Christmastime – Son of God

Daniel 3:25 (NKJV) "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

It is interesting that the first mention of the Son of God comes from a king that had no regard for God. Yet, he recognized the extra man in fire as one that looked like the Son of God.

The next reference in scripture of someone using the name Son of God is when satan came to Jesus in the wilderness to tempt Him. Three times satan said, “If you are the Son of God …?” Each time Jesus responded with a verse found in the Old Testament.

Luke 4:2-13 (ESV) for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

As a child, Jesus knew He was the Son of God when He was only twelve years old.

Luke 2:48-50 (ESV) And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

In Luke’s account of Jesus’ life he gives the linage of Jesus. It ends with another reference to the other Son of God, Adam.

Luke 3:23-38 (ESV) Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, … the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Jesus was the second Adam. He came to undo what Adam brought to the human race through his sin in the Garden of Eden. Jesus became the One whose heel would be bruised in the crushing of the serpent’s head. Jesus succeeded in His mission. He was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, lived a sinless life as a man filled with the Spirit of God. He died as the perfect Lamb whose blood washed away our sin. He was raised from the dead, defeating hell and the grave for us. He ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God, “far above all rule, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named”, so that we once again reign in life. Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit to abide in us forever.

That, my friend, is the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus, which provides us with a way back to our Creator. Thank you, Jesus, the Son of God, for paying the price for us!